Da Vinci artwork hidden under 17 layers of whitewash

The artwork is a mural painted on the castle’s walls that was hidden underneath 17 layers of whitewash. The mural was discovered by restorers from the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. The mural is a picture of mulberry trees with fruit on them that are tied together with golden rope. It was commissioned by the duke of Milan, Ludovico Maria Sforza, for his “Room of Planks” in 1498. Much of the work was painted by da Vinci’s assistants. The restorers are working to uncover the northeast and northwest corners of the room, which show signs of da Vinci’s original sketches. The restoration process to uncover da Vinci’s sketches is expected to take two years, reports The New York Daily News.

“The mural is covered by a thick layer of grime,” a restorer told Discovery News. “However, our cleaning tests indicate that it can be easily removed. Leonardo’s paint won’t be damaged in the procedure.”